Walgreens vet Bryan Pugh joins Fred’s Super Dollar

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Fred's Super Dollar on Wednesday announced several key management changes. Walgreens veteran Bryan Pugh has been named chief merchandising and marketing officer; Craig Barnes has been promoted to EVP supply chain, global and domestic logistics; and Mike Holligan has been promoted to EVP store operations.

"Working together with Mike Bloom, our president and COO, we are now assembling a solid, experienced management team that complements our pharmacy team to drive growth in market share and improve profitability," stated Jerry Shore, Fred's CEO. "We are very excited about how this team has come together and the opportunities ahead for Fred's."

"I am very enthusiastic about the experience that this leadership team brings to their respective roles and the way they position Fred's to drive profitability and to grow the convenience/pharmacy-centric model," Bloom said.

Bryan Pugh brings to Fred's 30 years of retail experience. Among his many roles at Walgreen's for the last six years, he served as chief merchandising officer responsible for $27 billion in sales. Prior to Walgreen's, Pugh worked for Tesco, where he was EVP operations for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets, COO and SVP merchandising and marketing for Tesco Lotus Stores.

As CMMO, Pugh will work to develop new and enhance current merchandising and marketing strategies and processes, promote stronger supplier partnerships, convert pharmacy patients to front-of-store customers, and build on the value proposition that Fred's offers its customers.

Prior to joining Fred's, Barnes held executive positions at AutoZone, CARQUEST and Delphi Automotive. He has had full responsibility for P&L management, supply chain and store operations management, global logistics, sourcing and inventory management. This move elevates his focus on supply chain as an enabler for improving operating margin. Barnes brings a unique skillset of merchandising, store operations, supply chain and sourcing that will drive the Company's plans to move from a distribution strategy to a fully integrated supply chain retailer, a critical step in becoming a low-cost operator.

In his short time as general merchandise manager, Barnes built a sourcing team, instituted improved processes and developed programs that promote supply chain improvements. The new initiatives and teamwork provides a solid foundation for Pugh and the entire Fred's organization to build upon.

Holligan's extensive experience in store operations began at Wal-Mart, where he spent 18 years before joining Fred's. While at Fred's, Holligan has successfully worked as district manager and regional VP store operations. He was a key leader in achieving store labor savings and inventory control while in those positions.

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores board of directors joined President Barack Obama and Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell Wednesday morning at The White House in launching the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network.

This initiative brings stakeholders together to share best practices to improve quality and reduce the cost of health care by accelerating health care alternative payment models.

“We were honored to be included in today’s event at The White House," noted Steven Anderson, NACDS president and CEO. "And we look forward to working with the Administration and other industry stakeholders to promote the value pharmacy and pharmacists bring to advancing patient health and a more efficient health care system. We will continue to highlight the need to ensure pharmacy is included in innovative care delivery models.”

Also on hand was NACDS chairman, John Standley, who is also Rite Aid chairman and CEO. Rite Aid announced Wednesday its participation in the Network. “As one of the nation’s leading pharmacy chains with nearly 90,000 associates, Rite Aid is committed to the goals of value-based health care and remains highly focused on delivering quality, cost-effective care that drives the best possible health outcomes for our patients," the company stated. "We support the Administration and Congress in their efforts to achieve these critical goals and look forward to actively participating in the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network."

Rite Aid is working with its benefit administration partners to have more than 50% of its company and associates’ medical spend supported by health care access through alternative models by 2018, the Pennsylvania-based retailer added. “Rite Aid applauds President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell for their leadership in forming the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. We are proud to join this important initiative and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to drive improvements and innovation throughout our nation’s health care delivery system.”

In January, HHS announced plans to increase the use of value-based payments in the Medicare system. As a part of this plan, HHS has set goals that tie increasing percentages of Medicare fee-for-service payments to quality or value through alternative payment models – such as accountable care organizations – annually through 2018.

The Health Care Payment and Learning Action Network will serve as a mechanism to facilitate the sharing and learning of workable value-based payments models. Specifically, the Network will work with stakeholders, including payers, providers, states and consumers groups, to accelerate the adoption of alternative payment methods. Stakeholders, including pharmacy, will collaborate to identify, develop and implement commonsense approaches to move toward alternative payment models employing quality and performance measurement among others.

Catalina names chief data officer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Personalized digital media company Catalina has announced the appointment of Dak Liyanearachchi as chief data officer of the global business.

In this role, Liyanearachchi will oversee Catalina’s insights and analytics group, leveraging the database of shopper purchase history to provide unique insight into consumer behavior. Using Catalina’s data and insights, Liyanearachchi and his team will execute high-ROI omnichannel campaigns for retail and brand customers globally.

“Dak’s keen understanding of data in the CPG market gives him the tools to help our clients problem solve and make better business decisions,” stated Jamie Egasti, CEO of Catalina. “He is unmatched in his ability to uncover consumer insights through data and analytics to enable true omnichannel delivery for CPG retailers and brands.”

Prior to his role as chief data officer, Liyanearachchi served as SVP of global data and analytics for Catalina. In the five years since joining the company, he has been responsible for developing Catalina’s U.K. business through data innovation. Prior to Catalina, Liyanearachchi worked at dunnhumby as global business development director and at LBM Direct Marketing Ltd, now part of Convergys, as director.

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